Some completely missed the mark
Hollywood has turned out an amazing roll call of characters over the years, with many known by some truly remarkable names. Dreamed up in the minds of screenwriters or authors, these individuals are intrinsic to movie plotlines. Indeed, some pictures are even named for their actors' titular roles. But who are those who've been christened with cinema's most catchy and endearing aliases?
Click on to read up on moviedom's most memorable character names.
"The name's Bond, James Bond." Sean Connery introduced 007 on screen in 'Dr. No' (1962). The character was created by Ian Fleming, who worked for Britain's Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War.
Tom Hanks played the gentle titular character in 'Forrest Gump' (1994). The role won him the Oscar for Best Actor.
Uma Thurman portrayed Beatrix "The Bride" Kiddo in 'Kill Bill: Volume 1' (2003) and 'Kill Bill: Volume 2' (2004).
Michael Douglas' Gordon Gekko personified the unscrupulous "greed is good" corporate culture of the 1980s in 'Wall Street' (1987). Douglas returned to the role for the 2010 sequel 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.'
Travis Bickle is the troubled cabbie and war veteran portrayed by Robert De Niro in 'Taxi Driver' (1976).
Nurse Ratched is one of the most despised characters in cinematic history, portrayed by Louise Fletcher in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975).
Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley first confronted the chest-busting creature from outer space in 'Alien' (1979).
Numerous memorable characters appear in the 'Star Wars' series of films, but it's Obi-Wan Kenobi in ' Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope' (1977), portrayed by Alec Guinness, who remains the movie's wise old patriarch. Of course, Ewan McGregor has his own iconic take on the character.
Vito Corleone enjoys double exposure in 'The Godfather' (1972) and 'The Godfather Part II' (1974), with Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro respectively portraying the Mafia boss.
Johnny Depp introduced Captain Jack Sparrow in 'The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003), and took the treacherous and conniving pirate on several additional High Seas adventures.
Peter Sellers introduced the chaotic French detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau in 'The Pink Panther' (1963).
One of cinema's scariest characters, Hannibal Lecter is chillingly portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991). Hopkins' cannibal also appeared in 'Hannibal' (2001) and 'Red Dragon' (2002).
Sylvester Stallone punched his way to stardom as Rocky Balboa in 'Rocky' (1976), and continued making a hit in five sequels.
Globe-trotting archaeologist Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford, is the titular character in 'Indiana Jones' (1981). "Indy" continued his escapades in a series of equally adventurous sequels.
Jim Carrey is Ace Venture, a private eye specializing in tracking down animals, and who made his debut in 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' (1994), and reappeared in the sequel 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls' (1995).
Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' (2012) and throughout the film series.
Ferris Bueller, played by Mathew Broderick, skips school for a some time out in Chicago in 'Ferris Bueller’s Day Off' (1986).
Tony Montana, portrayed by Al Pacino in 'Scarface' (1983), is not a guy you want to cross.
America's favorite newsman, Ron Burgundy is portrayed by Will Ferrell in 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' (2004) and the 2013 follow-up ''Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.'
Jake Gyllenhaal's titular character in 'Donnie Darko' (2001) is a troubled teen induced into committing a series of crimes.
Despite his innocuous suburban name, motel proprietor Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, is a disturbed and sinister killer in 'Psycho' (1960).
Two movies, 'The Addams Family' (1991) and 'Addams Family Values' (1993), see Christina Ricci portray the seriously weird Wednesday Addams.
Orlando Bloom plays the pointy-eared Legolas in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies (2001-2014)—one of many wonderful and imaginative characters based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Atticus Finch is the name given to Gregory Peck's brave lawyer in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1962). He took home the Oscar for Best Actor for the role.
Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius is portrayed by Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' (2000). Marcus Aurelius, the character played by Richard Harris in the film, actually existed.
Ellis Boyd Redding, better known as "Red," is the contraband smuggler played by Morgan Freeman in 'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994).
Former Special Forces soldier Snake Plissken is portrayed by Kurt Russell in 'Escape from New York' (1981) and again in 'Escape from L.A.' (1996).
Marge Gunderson—"Margie"—is portrayed by Frances McDormand in 'Fargo' (1996). She won the Oscar for Best Actress for the role.
John Turturro takes the title role in 'Barton Fink' (1991) as a playwright who discovers Hollywood is more than just tinsel and glamour.
Clint Eastwood is the bank robber known as "Thunderbolt," and his young sidekick, "Lightfoot," is Jeff Bridges in 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot' (1974).
The HAL 9000 computer with a human personality is devious enough to kill the crewmen in '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968).
Sources: (Britannica) (Biography)
Moviedom's most memorable character names
Cinema's greatest aliases
MOVIES Film
Hollywood has turned out an amazing roll call of characters over the years, with many known by some truly remarkable names. Dreamed up in the minds of screenwriters or authors, these individuals are intrinsic to movie plotlines. Indeed, some pictures are even named for their actors' titular roles. But who are those who've been christened with cinema's most catchy and endearing aliases?
Click on to read up on moviedom's most memorable character names.